Auxiliary handle means for electric hair clippers



y 1960 A. w. DRESE 2,938,268

AUXILIARY HANDLE MEANS FOR ELECTRIC HAIR CLIPPERS Filed Nov. 9, 1959/A/l/EA/TOR HQTHUR W. DRE6E 5r His 0110 NEY United States PatentOAUXILIARY HANDLE MEANS FOR ELECTRIC HAIR CLIPPERS Arthur W. Drese, Box598, Rte. 6, Sappington, Mo.

Filed Nov. 9, 1959, Ser. No. 851,784

7 Claims. (Cl. 30-210) The present invention relates generally toelectric hair clippers, and more particularly to the provision of meanson conventional clippers of this type adapted to enable individuals tocut and trim their own hair without assistance from another or others.

Stated more specifically, the present invention provides means adaptedto facilitate the cutting and trimming of a persons own hair with aconventional electric clipper. Heretofore, there has been no problemwith respect to the front and side hair growth, but what may be termed aself-administered full haircut has not been possible, insofar as I amaware.

In accordance with the concepts of the present invention, auxiliaryhandle means are provided whereby an individual with the aid of astationary mirror and a hand mirror may cut and trim the hair on therear of his head and neck in the privacy of his home, and impart theretothe appearance of having been done by a professional barber.

The attainment of this result is facilitated by the provision of a pairof removable handle bars that may be embodied in conventional clipperconstructions without in any way changing their normal operationalmechanisms.

As a general rule clipper casings of the type under consideration aremolded of plastic material and split transversely from end to end toprovide a mechanism containing housing, and a cover member therefor thatis removably secured thereto by screws, as is understood.

In ordinary use, this casing is manipulated by holding the incorporatedhandle portion thereof in the hand of an operator, and directing thereciprocal toothed blade clipping arrangement into engagement with thehair in well understood barbering technique.

Many men with a little practice have attained proficiency in theemployment of electrical hair clippers insofar as the trimming ofsideburns and top of the head hair are concerned. Insofar as I am awarehowever, the present invention provides the first means to enable a manto cut and trim the hair on the neck and back of his own head.

In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, the handlemeans under consideration may be embodied in any conventional electricclipper so as to render it effective for the purpose in contemplation.

Accordingly, the primary objective of this invention is to secure to, orembody in the casing of conventional clippers of the electric type,handle means whereby with the aid of a stationary mirror and a handmirror, a man may quickly and efficiently give himself a haircut.

In the attainment of this objective, it would obviously be requisitethat directional control of the clipper be had. In order to provide suchcontrol in a most efiicient manner, the present invention provides apair of projecting handle bars or grip members that extend laterallybeyond each side of the clipper casing, so that the disposition of thecutting blades relatively to the hair may be controlled 2,938,268Patented May 31, 1960 alternatively by the right or the left hand of theperson employing the clipper in this novel function.

As a general rule, clippers of the type under consideration have casingsthat are approximately two inches in width. The present inventioncontemplates providing such casings with transversely extending handlearrangements that measure approximately twelve inches from end to end.Thus the manually engageable handle bar members projecting laterallyfrom each side of the casing would generally be about five inches inlength.

Preferably but not necessarily, the contemplated handle bars would beround in cross-section, and molded of plastic material. Projecting fromone end of each handle bar and having a smaller diameter relativelythereto is a threaded extension integrally molded therewith. Theseextensions are adaptable to threadedly engage complemental internallythreaded or tapped sockets provided therefor on the clipper casing inaccordance with the teachings of this invention.

A feature of the invention is that no change whatever is requisite inthe internal construction and other,mechanism of conventional clippers.In one form of the invention, the sockets aforesaid are .provided in agenerally cylindrical element of plastic material that is secured atopthe cover of the clipper casing. A recess is formed in what will betermed the undersurface of said element, a pair of tapped openings aredrilled in the cover member, and said cylindrical element is securedthereto preferably by'means of screws, although it will be understoodthat said element may be bonded to the cover by other means, such ascement and so on.

With the cylindrical socket equipped element permanently incorporated,the two handle members may be applied for the purpose contemplated, andthereafter removed if desired, as will appear.

In another example, the internally threaded sockets for the reception ofthe threaded extensions of the handles are provided in an upstandingtransversely extending boss portion that is molded into the cover memberof the easing, as will appear.

Alternatively, the present invention contemplates an arrangement whereinthe internally threaded sockets are provided in laterally projectingbosses integrally formed in the mechanism enclosing housing proper,rather than in the cover member therefor.

It is therefore also an object of the present invention to provideauxiliary handle means in such manner that in corporation thereof inconventional clippers may be had without effecting the operationalmechanisms thereof.

A further object is to provide the means aforesaid in removable form, sothat as will appear, the clipper may be conveniently packed for shippingor for travel purposes.

The invention is illustrated on a sheet of drawings that accompaniesthis specification, and a more comprehensive understanding of its novelobjectives and advantages may be had from the detailed description tofollow with reference to said drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a conventional electric hair clipper(shown partly in broken lines), embodying auxiliary handle means inaccordance with the concepts of my invention;

Figure 2 is a similar view, partly in horizontal section, particularlyillustrating the removability of the auxiliary handle bars.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view on an enlarged scale, takensubstantially along the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of a conven-' tional electrichair clipper incorporating a modified auxilinvention;

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view on an enlarged scale, takensubstantially along the line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary top plan view of a conventional electric hairclipper incorporating auxiliary handle means in association with thecasing housing instead of the cover member thereof;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the clipper shown inFigure 6, said view being partly in section and on an enlarged scale,taken on the line 77 of Figure 6; and

Figure 8 is a pictorial presentation of the manner wherein an individualwould employ the present invention in use.

A somewhat schematically outlined conventional electric hair clipper ofthe type under consideration is gen erally designated A wherever itappears in the drawings, either in its entirety or fragmentarily.

Inasmuch as the present invention concerns only the operating mechanismenclosing housing B and the cover member C therefor, these have beenpresented in full lines, whereas except in Figure 8, the reciprocaltoothed blade cutting assembly D and the electrical connections E of theclipper A have been presented in broken lines. Usually, the covermembers C are removably secured to the housings B by means of aplurality of screws such as those designated s. That portion of theclipper comprised of the united cover and housing components that isremote from the cutting assembly D is usually tapered or reduced inwidth as shown, and constitutes the handle wherewith the clipper wouldordinarily be manipulated, as is well understood.

A simple form of my invention is depicted in Figures 1 through 3. Inthis embodiment, the auxiliary handle means comprises an assembly ofthree generally cylindrical elements preferably molded of plasticmaterial. Included in this assembly is a cylinder 10 having an inter.-nally threaded socket 12 formed in each end thereof. What will be termedthe underside of the cylinder 10 has formed therein a recess 14,- thelength of said recess being appropriate for the reception of the topportion of the cover member C.

A pair of transversely spaced holes 16 is provided in the cylinder 10for the passage therethrough of screws 18 into correspondingly spacedtapped openings 19 in the cover member C. Preferably as shown, but notnecessarily, the holes 16 are countersunk, so that the heads of thescrews 18 will lie flush or slightly below the top surface of thecylinder 10.

Preferably as shown, the handle bars 20 are of cylindrical form and of adiameter corresponding to that of the cylinder 10. Each handle bar 20 isprovided at one end with a threaded extension 22 of reduced diameter.The external diameters of these extensions correspond to the internaldiameters of the sockets 12, and the length of them is slightly lessthan the depth of said sockets. At the mergence of each extension intothemain body of the handle bar 20, an annular shoulder 24 results, saidshoulders serving to limit inward movement of the handle bars when thelatter are mounted.

From the foregoing it should be clear that in order to equip aconventional clipper casing with the auxiliary handle means of myinvention, the only operation necessary with respect to said casing isto provide the trans versely spaced tapped openings 19 in the cover C,the spacing of said openings of course being determined by the thespacing of the holes 16 in the socket cylinder 16.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, theinternally threaded sockets i2 are formed in the opposed end portions ofan upwardly projecting boss 26 integrally molded with the cover C of theclipper casing. Preferably the boss portion 26 is arcuately contouredand extends atop the cover from side to side thereof as shown.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig.- ures 6 and 7,the internally threaded sockets 12 are 4 formed in opposed preferablycircular bosses 28 that are integrally molded with the housing B of theclipper casing, and project laterally therefrom.

In view of the foregoing, it should be manifest that the invention is asimple one, and is characterized by the provision of a pair of opposedinternally threaded sockets on the clipper casing, and a pair of handlebars having externally threaded extensions whereby said handle bars maybe removably integrated with said casing.

The manner wherein a clipper embodying the present invention may beemployed in the attainment of its objectives is pictorially presented inFigure 8. It will be understood that the individual shown manipulatingthe clipper with his right hand and a hand mirror m with his left, wouldhave a comparatively larger stationary mirror (not shown) disposed athis back. Following completion of the self-administered cutting andtrimming operation with respect to the right side of his head, theindividual would simply transfer the mirror m to his right hand, andmanipulate the clipper with his left hand to thus complete aself-administered haircut and trim operation.

What I claim is:

1. In an electric hair clipper including a casing incorpointing a handleportion for manipulating the clipper in the customary manner: thecombination with the casing of a pair of removable auxiliary handle barseach projecting laterally from one side of said casing for manipulatingthe clipper during hair cutting and trimming operationsself-administered by an individual to the neck and back of his head.

2. In combination with a hair clipper of the electric type including acasing comprised of an operating mechanism enclosing housing and aremovable cover therefor: auxiliary handle means removably secured tosaid casing whereby to facilitate manipulations of the clipper inself-administered hair cutting and trimming operations of the characterdescribed.

3. In combination with a hair clipper of the electric type including acasing comprised of an operating mechanism enclosing housing and aremovable cover therefor: auxiliary handle means removably secured tosaid casing whereby to facilitate manipulations of the clipper inself-administered hair cutting and trimming operations of the characterdescribed, said means including a cylinder rigidly secured to said coverand extending transversely across the top thereof, an internallythreaded socket formed in each end portion of the cylinder, a pair ofcylindrical handle bars, and a threaded extension of reduced diameterrelatively thereto projecting from one end of each handle bar forengagement with one of said sockets.

4. In combination with a hair clipper of the electric type including acasing comprised of an operating mechanism enclosing housing and aremovable cover therefor: auxiliary handle means removably secured tosaid casing whereby to facilitate manipulations of the clipper inself-administered hair cutting and trimming operations of the characterdescribed, said means including a cylinder element rigidly secured tosaid cover and extending transversely across the top thereof, aninternally threaded socket formed in each end portion of the cylinderelement a pair of handle bars, a threaded extension of reduced diameterrelatively thereto projecting from one endof each handle bar and beingadapted to engage in one of said sockets, and an annular shoulder formedin the handle bar by the mergence of said extension thereinto, saidshoulder being adapted to engage against an end face of the cylinderelement aforesaid when the handle bar is in position.

S. The structure set forth in claim 4, wherein th cylinder element isprovided with an appropriate recess in its undersurface for thereception of the upper surface of the cover; wherein the handle bars arecylindrical and are diametered correspondingly to said cylinder element;wherein the cylindrical section has formed therein apair of spacedholes; and wherein the cover member has formed therein a pair of tappedholes spaced correspondingly to the holes in the cylindrical section,whereby screws passing through the last named holes into engagement withthe tapped holes in the cover member serve to rigidly maintain thecylinder element aforesaid rigidly in position on said cover.

6; In combination with a hair clipper of the electric type including acasing comprised of an operating mechanism enclosing housing and a covertherefor: auxiliary handle means wherewith to manipulate the clipper inself-administered hair cutting and trimming operations of the characterdescribed, said means comprising an upstanding arcuate boss portionintegrally formed with said cover and extending transversely from sideto side thereof, a threaded socket formed in each end of said bossportion, a pair of cylindrical handle bars each having a threadedextension of reduced diameter relatively thereto projecting from one endthereof, the diameters of said extension and said sockets being incorrespondence, and an annular shoulder formed in each handle bar 6 bythe mergence of said reduced extension thereinto, said shoulder beingadapted to engage against said boss portion when the handle bar is inposition.

7. In combination with a hair clipper of the electric type including acasing comprised of an operating mechanism enclosing housing and a covertherefor: auxiliary handle means wherewith to manipulate the clipper inself-administred hair cutting and trimming operations of the characterdescribed, said means comprising a pair of bosses in transversealignment each projecting from one side of said housing and moldedintegrally therewith; a threaded socket formed in each boss, a pair ofcylindrical handle bars each having a threaded extension of reduceddiameter relatively thereto projecting from one end thereof, thediameters of said extension and said sockets being in correspondence,and an annular shoulder formed in each handle bar by the mergence ofsaid reduced extension thereinto, said shoulder being adapted to engageagainst said boss portion when the handle bar 20 is in position.

No references cited.

